Superficial journalism about a recent government report on troubled banks facing failures this year. This story is largely based on a single source, with no independent viewpoints and little context to help understand this complex issue. In the accompanying video interview with FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair, CNN reporter Poppy Harlow doesn't ask many tough questions, essentially promoting the government's position without any other perspectives.

They have essentially reprinted the highlights of an FDIC report, and slapped on a sensational title that belies the actually sober facts within the article.

Only one stakeholder is interviewed: FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair. Only one source is cited: the FDIC. The article doesn't include enough of a variety of sources to make it truly informative. No opposing viewpoints are included in this poorly sourced piece, and with more than 700 banks "at risk of going bust," articles on this crucial topic -- which affects millions, perhaps billions of people, worldwide -- must be done well.

This isn't quality journalism; it's a "news story" based on a report provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, with the reporter garning a few sources to comment on the report, with a bias toward--are you ready?--banks. The story doesn't state what banks went under. Rather, the FDIC is cited as "never" doing that to prevent a run on those banks. If so, then, why does the FDIC post the list? (See my links.) Bad bank journalism.